Leora M. Mayhew passed away peacefully at home with her grandson by her side on Sunday, May 5th, 2024, after battling kidney cancer for 5 months. At the request of Leora, which will come to no surprise to anyone that knew her, there will be a graveside service at Buffalo Prairie Cemetery at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 11, 2024, followed by a celebration of life at the Reynolds United Methodist Church at 11:00 am. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend both. Memorials may be left in care of Shriner's Hospitals for Children or Mercer County Agricultural Society.

Mrs. Mayhew was born July 16th, 1938 in Reynolds to Vernie and Mary Quayle. Leora resided in the Reynolds area and graduated from Reynolds High School. She married John B. Mayhew on May 16th, 1959 in Reynolds. She spent her entire life actively working and farming with her husband and son. She was also the office manager of the Rock Island Sale Barn and Livestock Auction, secretary of the Mercer County Fair and an incredible baker and made many cakes for weddings in the area. John and Leora retired from farming and working full time in 2002.

After retirement Leora enjoyed traveling especially to Florida, Texas, and Hawaii. Leora also was an avid sports fan. She was a fan of the Chicago Cubs, Fighting Illini football and basketball and Chicago Bears football. She never missed a game and always enjoyed watching the Cubs with her grandson and was able to attend opening day last year for the first time. She also enjoyed her time at the fairs and helping at numerous county fairs in the area. She enjoyed showing hogs with her son and then sheep with her grandson and visiting with all the different exhibitors. Leora was an active member of Reynolds United Methodist Church and loved her church family and serving the lord. She also loved to work in her garden and make food for everyone, especially pies, cake, her famous spaghetti sauce and chicken and noodles whenever anyone was sick.

She is survived by her grandson, John Dale Mayhew and his partner Emmanuel Winston who split time between the family farm in Reynolds and Chicago, IL; her niece, Cindy Quayle, Rocky Hill, CT; special friends, which she called adopted daughters, Lynn Borg, Dixon, IL and Joanne Murdock, Reynolds, IL.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John in 2017; her son, Jaycee Mayhew in 1984; her brother and sister in law, John (Mary) Quayle; sister-in-law, Martha Nielsen; her parents and grandparents.

The family would also like to thank Kami, Shaun, Leanna, Makenzie, and Shannon for their caregiving skills during this difficult time and ability to get her home to enjoy her last days there. We would also like to thank the staff at Mercer Manor and all the doctors at Iowa City.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.wheelanpressly.com.